Starting the Anthracite Rice Coal Stove Dec 31 2017

I only start this stove when the temps are going to be near zero or hang just above that for awhile. I didn't have to run it last year. I have a big Rice Coal stove in the basement as the main heat for the house.
I've used this method of lighting the stoves for years.
My youngest son would actually find road flares along the road (That still had some life left in them in the summer) I always had an ample supply. He moved out and now I just buy them at Rural King. I cut them in 3 pieces with a plastic tubing cutter and store them in a zip-lock bag.